The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, increased maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for eligible women. However, this extension was primarily aimed at first-time mothers, with subsequent pregnancies subject to different provisions. The Act does not reduce entitlements for women with two children; rather, it maintains the standard benefit period. While the Act mandates creches in certain establishments and allows mothers to visit them, the specific number of visits daily is not rigidly fixed at six.